Fadnavis Orders Probe Into Jarange Audio Clip

The Chief Minister’s order came a day after the Maratha quota activist accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of conspiring against him ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. He also released purported audio clips of BJP leaders discussing money allegedly paid to him to control the political narrative in the state.

Following Jarange-Patil’s allegations, a delegation of Shiv Sena leaders, including Sachin Ahir, Milind Deora and Rahul Shewale, met the Chief Minister on Thursday night, seeking a probe into the matter. The delegation also submitted a letter to the Chief Minister, naming several BJP leaders mentioned in the audio clips and demanding a forensic investigation to verify their authenticity.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote in the Maharashtra Legislative Council election for the Nagpur Graduates’ constituency, Fadnavis said a forensic examination would be conducted into the audio clip that had surfaced in connection with the Maratha reservation activist.

“I also have the same question: why has the conversation surfaced after two-and-a-half years, what is the motive behind its release, and who is being targeted?” he said.

He added that Jarange-Patil, the Shiv Sena leaders’ delegation and the BJP had all demanded an investigation into the audio clip.

“I will certainly conduct an inquiry into it and bring out the truth,” he said.

Asked about the alleged use of a spy pen, Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, said he was unaware of the matter and would be able to comment only after examining it. NCP (SP) Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule had alleged that a pen equipped with a spy camera was being used in Pune to record videos of voters casting their votes for the BJP candidate.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam on Friday alleged that Jarange-Patil had conspired with the BJP to politically eliminate Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde amid the controversy over the purported audio clip. Kadam accused the Maratha quota activist of misleading the Maratha community and creating divisions among different communities.

“You are conspiring with the BJP to eliminate a Maratha leader,” Kadam said, referring to Shinde.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray also raised questions over a viral 29-minute audio clip dubbed the “Friendship File”, alleging that it pointed to attempts by BJP functionaries and social media influencers to influence the media, divert public attention from government controversies and promote religious polarisation for political gains.

In a post on X, Thackeray claimed that the purported conversation involved BJP functionaries, individuals playing key roles in the party’s social media operations, a senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) office-bearer and YouTube influencers who project themselves as impartial political analysts.

Questioning Fadnavis’s announcement of a forensic examination of the audio clip, Thackeray said the investigation should not be used to delay accountability.

“Actually, listening to the conversation makes it clear that this amounts to the murder and rape of democracy! In other words, it is good that the Chief Minister has acknowledged that the conversation contains serious allegations that need to be investigated. By all means, verify the authenticity of the evidence, but if you were unaware of what was being discussed in the conversation, you must also investigate what was going on behind your back,” he said.